Crock Pot Stuffed Bell Peppers

Crock Pot Stuffed Bell Peppers are a hearty and flavor-packed meal that will melt in your mouth. Bell peppers are hollowed out and stuffed with a seasoned ground beef filling and slow cooked until tender.

I am very blessed with kids that will eat anything. Well, mostly anything. Bell peppers are a food item that my kids don’t love. Emma will not touch her plate if she knows it’s in certain dishes. Well, one day when I was cooking them in the crock pot Emma came down and asked, ‘that smells so good, what are you making?’ You should’ve seen how surprised she was when my response was, “Crock Pot Stuffed Bell Peppers.” That moment of realization on her face was one I’ll never forget. I am happy to report that when I served her one she almost licked her plate clean! 😃

CROCK POT STUFFED BELL PEPPERS

Let’s begin with the star of the show, bell peppers. Cut the top off each pepper and remove the seeds and ribs. A little kitchen hack I’ve learned over the years is if you cut the top off and turn the pepper upside down over a bowl and tap the sides all the seeds will come out. It’s like magic! Once the peppers have been hollowed out then you fill them with an incredible mixture of lean ground beef, seasonings, enchilada sauce, yellow onion, Mexican Rice, and Colby-Jack cheese. Stuff each pepper to the brim! The peppers then go into a slow cooker with just a bit of water at the base, and cook until they are tender and the meat filling is fully cooked.

INGREDIENTS

• 5 bell peppers
• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 can (10 ounces) red enchilada sauce
• ½ cup of diced yellow onion
• 2 cups Mexican rice
• 1 1/2 cups shredded Colby-Jack cheese, divided

COOKING INSTRUCTIONS

Cut the tops off of each bell pepper. Remove the seeds and ribs from the inside. Dice the tops of each bell pepper. Set aside.

In a large bowl, combine the raw ground beef, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, enchilada sauce, onion, Mexican rice, diced bell peppers, and 1/2 cup of the cheese. Season mixture with salt and pepper. Stir to combine with a spatula. Stuff each pepper with the ground beef mixture.

Fill the crock pot with a half inch of water. Place the stuffed bell peppers inside. Cover with lid and cook on Low heat for 6 hours OR on High heat 3 hours.

Top each stuffed pepper with the remaining shredded cheese. Cover with lid until cheese has melted.

Serve warm with favorite toppings. Enjoy!

SERVING SIZE

This recipe makes 5 stuffed bell peppers. One stuffed bell pepper equals one serving.

TOPPINGS

One of the fun things I love about this dish is that you can customize your individual meal. I like to treat this recipe as if I were serving my family a taco bar. I set out bowls full of tomatoes, olives, cheese, sour cream, salsa, guacamole, and jalapenos. Sometimes I’ll make a side of black beans or pinto beans to make sure that everyone leaves the dinner table totally satisfied. 

SIDE DISHES

These peppers are filling on their own, but I always like to have a few sides just to make sure the plate is good and full. As previously mentioned, I like to serve extra Mexican Rice with this dish. It’s the perfect complement to the peppers. A green salad is also another great side option.

LEANER MEAT

You can use ground turkey or ground chicken to replace the ground beef, and the meal will still turn out just as flavorful! You can’t go wrong with using any of these meats.

VEGETARIAN OPTION

This is such an easy dinner to make into a meatless meal. You can substitute the ground beef for black beans or pinto beans. If you are using beans from a can, make sure to drain and rinse them first. Mix them with the seasonings and ingredients that you would with the meat. The best part is that the beans pack protein just like the meat would.

ENJOY THIS RECIPE? HERE ARE A FEW MORE OF MY CROCK POT CREATIONS!

Crock Pot Beef and Broccoli – This Asian inspired dish is loaded with tender pieces of beef and florets of broccoli slowly cooked in a savory sauce.

Crock Pot Shredded Beef Tacos – Juicy and flavorful beef is simmer until it practically falls apart on its own. Served in taco shells and perfect for Tuesdays!

Crock Pot Beef Stew – This hearty meal is one that is full of comfort. Pieces of meat stewed in a thick sauce with veggies like potatoes, carrots, and onions.

Crock Pot Creamy Mashed Potatoes – This side dish is one that goes well with any Sunday dinner. Let these cook on low all day, and they’ll be ready by supper.

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